PATTERNS OF POPULATION DISTRIBUTION IN THE WORLD

• Population distribution refers to how people are spaced over the earth’s surface.
• 90% of the world population occupies about 10% of its land area.
• The 10 most populous countries contribute about 60% of the world’s population.
• Six of these highly populous countries are located in Asia.
• The six most populous countries in Asia are not specified in the text.
• Figure 2.1 provides a visual representation of the most populous countries.

===

DENSITY OF POPULATION

• The density of population is a ratio of people to land area.
• It’s measured in persons per sq km, calculated as: Population / Area.
• For Region X, an area of 100 sq km with a population of 1,50,000 results in a density of 1,500 person/sq km.
• High population density can indicate limited space or many residents.
• Asia has the highest density of population; discuss possible reasons for this in class.

===

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION

• Natural Factors: Geographical features, climate, and vegetation can influence population distribution.
• Economic Factors: Employment opportunities, income levels, and cost of living can affect where people choose to live.
• Social Factors: Cultural preferences, family ties, and social networks can play a role in population distribution.
• Political Factors: Government policies, laws, and regulations can influence where people live, work, and settle.
• Historical Factors: Past events, migrations, and settlement patterns can shape current population distribution.

===

I. Geographical Factors

• Water availability is crucial for life, making river valleys densely populated.
• People prefer flat plains and gentle slopes for building roads, industries, and farming.
• Extreme climates, like hot or cold deserts, are uncomfortable for habitation, while moderate climates attract more people.
• Fertile soils are important for agriculture and support higher population levels.
• Areas with poor soil quality have lower populations, e.g., some regions in India.
• Mountainous and hilly areas, as well as regions with harsh climates, tend to have fewer inhabitants.

===

II. Economic Factors

• Mineral deposits attract industries, leading to mining and industrial activities that generate employment.
• Skilled and semi-skilled workers move to these areas, making them densely populated (e.g., Katanga Zambia copper belt).
• Urbanization results in cities offering better employment, educational, medical facilities, and transport, leading to rural-to-urban migration.
• Industrial belts provide job opportunities for various professionals, attracting large numbers of people (e.g., Kobe-Osaka region of Japan).
• Cities offer amenities and attraction, but city life can have unpleasant aspects.

===

III. Social and Cultural Factors

• People are drawn to places with religious or cultural significance.
• Conversely, people avoid areas with social and political unrest.
• Governments sometimes provide incentives for people to live in sparsely populated regions.
• Governments also encourage movement from overcrowded places.
• Examples of these social and cultural factors can be found in various local and regional contexts.

===

POPULATION GROWTH

• Population growth refers to change in number of inhabitants in a territory over a specific period.
• Can be positive (birth rate > death rate or immigration) or negative (birth rate < death rate or emigration).
• Expressed in absolute numbers or percentage.
• Important indicator of economic development, social upliftment, and historical/cultural background.
• Key concepts:
  • Growth of Population: Change in population between two points in time.
  • Growth Rate of Population: Change in population expressed in percentage.
  • Natural Growth of Population: Population increased by births minus deaths.
  • Actual Growth of Population: Natural growth plus net migration (immigration minus emigration).

===

Components of Population Change

• Three components of population change: births, deaths, and migration
• Crude Birth Rate (CBR) calculated as live births in a year per thousand of population: CBR = (Bi/P) x 1000
• Crude Death Rate (CDR) measures mortality, expressed as number of deaths per thousand of population: CDR = (D/P) x 1000
• Population growth can increase with higher birth rates and decreased death rates
• CDR affected by a region’s demographic structure, social advancement, and economic development levels
• Mortality rates are influenced by the above factors in addition to CDR

===

Migration

• Population size changes through migration, which involves moving from a Place of Origin to a Place of Destination.
• Migration can be permanent, temporary, or seasonal, and may occur between rural and urban areas.
• Those moving into a new place are called immigrants, while those moving out are emigrants.
• Push factors (e.g., unemployment, poor living conditions) decrease the appeal of the place of origin, while pull factors (e.g., better job opportunities) increase the attractiveness of the destination.
• People migrate primarily for improved economic and social conditions.
• Human population has significantly increased in the past 500 years, with a four-fold increase in the twentieth century.

===

DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION

• Demographic transition theory describes and predicts population changes in regions.
• Population changes from high births and deaths to low births and deaths as society progresses from rural to urban.
• The theory has 3 stages:
  • Stage 1: High fertility and mortality due to epidemics and variable food supply.
  • Stage 2: Fertility remains high but declines over time, mortality reduces due to improved sanitation and health.
  • Stage 3: Both fertility and mortality decline considerably, population is urbanized, literate and controls family size.
• This theory can be used to explain population changes in different countries at various stages of development.
• Present day countries are at different stages of demographic transition.

===

POPULATION CONTROL MEASURES

• Family planning involves spacing or preventing children’s births. • Access to family planning services helps limit population growth and enhance women’s health. • Measures for population control include propaganda, free contraceptives, and tax disincentives for large families. • Thomas Malthus predicted that population growth would outpace food supply, leading to a crash via famine, disease, and war. • Preventive checks are preferable to physical checks for population control. • Controlling rapid population increase is crucial for the world’s resource sustainability.

===